Inspecting, servicing and repairing EV charge points

An inspection of a charge point combines a visual check with electrical tests. The inspector looks at the enclosure, seals, cable and connector for cracks, water ingress or heat damage, and at the fixing to the wall or post. The tests cover the circuit's protective devices, including the residual current protection, the earthing arrangement and any device that protects against a network fault outdoors, insulation resistance, and whether the charger switches off correctly when a fault is simulated.

The charger circuit is part of the building's fixed electrical installation, so it is also covered when the whole installation receives a periodic inspection. The result is recorded in an Electrical Installation Condition Report, with codes for anything dangerous, potentially dangerous or recommended for improvement.

A service visit may also include software and firmware updates, checking the app connection and the default charging hours, and confirming that load management still reads the household or site demand correctly.

The residual current device keeps tripping. This can be a fault in the charger, the car, the cable or damp in an outdoor connection, and it needs testing rather than repeated resetting. The charger shows offline or the app has lost it: often a Wi-Fi or mobile signal problem, sometimes a software fault after an update. The car will not start charging: the connector or cable may be damaged, or the charger's protection has detected a problem with the supply.

Physical damage is common where cables are driven over or left on the ground. A cracked connector or exposed conductor is a reason to stop using the charger until it has been repaired. Do not open the charger yourself; repairs belong to an electrician, and opening it can also void the warranty.

For a home you own, there is no fixed legal interval. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and any warranty conditions, and include the charger when the whole house has its periodic inspection.

Landlords in England must have the electrical installation of a rented home inspected and tested at least every 5 years, and a charge point fitted to the property is part of that installation. Landlords who used a chargepoint grant for a residential site were asked to arrange maintenance checks as a condition of applying.

Employers and site operators have a duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to maintain electrical systems so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. For a car park with several chargers, that normally means a written maintenance plan and records of inspections. Operators of public rapid chargers also have to meet and publish a reliability standard under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which makes prompt fault repair part of compliance.

Source: gov.uk

• which tests are carried out and how often, and which report you receive
• response times for faults and whether they differ for public chargers
• whether parts and connectors are included or charged separately
• software, SIM and back-office fees and who pays them
• how warranty claims with the manufacturer are handled
• records you receive for your own compliance files

Tell us the charger make and model, the fault or the inspection you need, and how many chargers there are. After confirming your phone number and email, the request goes, without your personal details, to electrical firms in your area that work on EV chargers. Only one can buy it, after which it is withdrawn from sale; the firm pays Offrano, not you.

You receive an email with the firm's name, address and phone number before your details are shared. No purchase is guaranteed, and unsold requests are withdrawn after 21 days. Offrano confirms business registration only, so ask whether the electrician knows your charger brand and is registered with a competent person scheme.